Bangkok: A business consortium plans to open a private commercial port on the banks of the Mekong river near the Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai's Chiang Saen district by the end of next month.
Lan Chang commercial port is built on 83 rai of land owned by MP World Trading, run by veteran politician Vatana Asavahame. The site is the former location of Ha Chiang Plaza shopping mall run by the same company.
The consortium has taken out a three-year lease and plans to buy the land in that period.
It made an initial investment of about 30 million baht for the first three years and after that the investment money in the next phases of development is expected to rise by as much as 600 million baht.
The consortium consists of Siam South China Logistics Co, which holds a 55% stake in the port, Kamol Insurance Co with a holding of 15%, Global Port Management Co with 15% and Suwannachinda Partnership Ltd with 15%.
The port project is in response to China's move to launch the Kunming and Jinghong industrial estates in southern China.
In addition, China also plans to build an agro-industrial estate on the Lao side of the Mekong river opposite Chiang Saen district.
The 10-billion-baht agri-industrial estate is a joint venture between Chinese investors and the Lao government.
It will cover about 20,000 rai with a five-star hotel, a casino, a hospital and a goods distribution centre planned. The estate is expected to open for business by next year.
Prathan Inseeyong, managing director of the Lan Chang port, said the port can serve six vessels of less than 500 tonnes gross.
A large crane for lifting goods of 150 tonnes has now been installed, while construction of a warehouse and parking areas for trucks is now underway. [19/11/07]
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